Extensive renovations delay opening of two businesses

Owners say grocery store, restaurant should open soon

Paul Humphryes, vice president of operations at Billy’s Sports Grill, cleans a wall at the restaurant in downtown Northport on Wednesday. It originally was to open in September, but renovations have caused delays.

Dusty Compton | The Tuscaloosa News

By Lydia Seabol AvantStaff Writer

Published: Friday, January 18, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 11:32 p.m.

NORTHPORT | The owners of a specialty grocery store and a restaurant in downtown Northport say extensive renovations have delayed the opening of their businesses.

Billy’s Sports Grill is moving into the building once occupied by the old Globe Restaurant at the corner of Fifth Street and Main Avenue in downtown Northport. Although the restaurant was originally supposed to open in September, the renovation of the building pushed back the opening date, said Terry Humphryes, Billy’s owner. The building underwent a $500,000 renovation.

“We pretty much gutted the kitchen and restrooms and back of the building, restored all the plaster walls, redid all the floors,” Humphryes said. “It’s pretty much a total do-over, from top to bottom.”

The renovation is almost complete, however, and the staff is being trained, he added. The restaurant should open by the end of January or early February, Humphryes said.

Once open, the restaurant will feature fresh food, including hand-cut steaks. Like other sports bars, it will have flat-screen televisions throughout, which will allow ­patrons to watch several events. In the main dining and bar area, Billy’s will have a Holo Display TV, a curved screen that measures about 6 feet by 12 feet, giving almost an IMAX-like experience.

The renovation is also ongoing at the future Mark’s Mart, a family-owned, specialty grocery store based in Selma, which will be its second location in Northport. The company first announced in May that it would open its second location in an old, converted barn off Fifth Street near Main Avenue, next to the railroad trestle.

While that is still the plan, the renovation has taken longer than expected, said owner Barry Snider. Originally, the grocery store was supposed to open last summer.

“We have just been delayed by a number of factors,” Snider said. “We’ve delayed it a couple of times, and want to do it right and open at the right time. We are excited about coming to Northport.”

Right now, Snider said the grocery store is waiting on bids for some electrical work to be done in the building.

Although progress is being made on the site, Snider said he could not say when the Mark’s Mart will open in Northport.

The specialty grocery store, once open, will offer restaurant-grade meats through its butcher shop, locally made breads, desserts, entrees and appetizers made in the store. Mark’s Mart will have a large wine and beer selection and offer local honey, Amish-made butter and local cheeses.

<p>NORTHPORT | The owners of a specialty grocery store and a restaurant in downtown Northport say extensive renovations have delayed the opening of their businesses.</p><p>Billy's Sports Grill is moving into the building once occupied by the old Globe Restaurant at the corner of Fifth Street and Main Avenue in downtown Northport. Although the restaurant was originally supposed to open in September, the renovation of the building pushed back the opening date, said Terry Humphryes, Billy's owner. The building underwent a $500,000 renovation. </p><p>“We pretty much gutted the kitchen and restrooms and back of the building, restored all the plaster walls, redid all the floors,” Humphryes said. “It's pretty much a total do-over, from top to bottom.”</p><p>The renovation is almost complete, however, and the staff is being trained, he added. The restaurant should open by the end of January or early February, Humphryes said. </p><p>Once open, the restaurant will feature fresh food, including hand-cut steaks. Like other sports bars, it will have flat-screen televisions throughout, which will allow ­patrons to watch several events. In the main dining and bar area, Billy's will have a Holo Display TV, a curved screen that measures about 6 feet by 12 feet, giving almost an IMAX-like experience. </p><p>The renovation is also ongoing at the future Mark's Mart, a family-owned, specialty grocery store based in Selma, which will be its second location in Northport. The company first announced in May that it would open its second location in an old, converted barn off Fifth Street near Main Avenue, next to the railroad trestle.</p><p>While that is still the plan, the renovation has taken longer than expected, said owner Barry Snider. Originally, the grocery store was supposed to open last summer. </p><p>“We have just been delayed by a number of factors,” Snider said. “We've delayed it a couple of times, and want to do it right and open at the right time. We are excited about coming to Northport.”</p><p>Right now, Snider said the grocery store is waiting on bids for some electrical work to be done in the building. </p><p>Although progress is being made on the site, Snider said he could not say when the Mark's Mart will open in Northport. </p><p>The specialty grocery store, once open, will offer restaurant-grade meats through its butcher shop, locally made breads, desserts, entrees and appetizers made in the store. Mark's Mart will have a large wine and beer selection and offer local honey, Amish-made butter and local cheeses. </p><p>Reach Lydia Seabol Avant at 205-722-0222 or lydia.seabolavant@tuscaloosanews.com.</p>